This story is kind of touching. The relics of two doctors of the Church–St. Ambrose and his most famous convert, St. Augustine–have been placed next to each other in Milan till the end of the week.
I can’t help thinking that the two of them must be moved by this up in heaven. I know I would be moved (figuratively, not just literally) if someone placed my relics beside those of one of my best friends, *sixteen centuries* after my death. What a testament to friendship!
On the other hand, I’m much less happy to see the Italians trying to make hay regarding the immigration issue in connection with all this. (Italians, like most Europeans, tend to be crazy regarding politics.) The comment by historian Giorgio Rumi that “Augustine’s descendants at this moment in time are probably queueing outside a [Milan] police station for a residence permit” is especially tasteless. Yes, it’s true that Augustine had a son before he was a priest, and so he may well have descendants today–or maybe not. However that may be, it’s supremely tasteless to raise the possibility in the way Rumi did.
Aww… that’s really a nice gesture…